When the new Birds of Prey series was first announced, fans of the team were incensed. Most incarnations of the team feature Barbara Gordon as either Oracle or Batgirl. This makes sense, as the original team was formed by Oracle and Black Canary. This point was addressed in the first issue, but some still wondered why Dinah Lance would make a new Birds of Prey team without her best friend.
An explanation was provided in Birds of Prey #6 by Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero. The issue concluded the series’ first story arc, with the team successfully rescuing Black Canary’s adopted sister, Sin. The Birds were welcomed home by Batgirl, who was clearly disappointed that Dinah didn’t seem to think she’d be helpful on their mission.
After Barbara left, Black Canary confronted Meridian, a time-traveling hero from the future who had helped the Birds of Prey. Meridian plotted the team’s raid on Themyscira but insisted Barbara Gordon could not know about the mission. Once Sin was rescued, however, Meridian was willing to explain why Oracle was left out of the loop.
Barbara Gordon Left Out of Birds of Prey to Save Her
Meridian explained that she was acting on the orders of the future Black Canary. Meridian also claimed that this was her twelfth attempt to travel back to the past to help the Birds of Prey. In her first eleven trips, Barbara Gordon was part of the mission. However, in all eleven trips, Barbara Gordon and Sin both died.
Meridian noted that this made no sense and theorized that another time traveler was targeting Barbara Gordon. This was the only reason she could think of why the first Batgirl kept dying, regardless of who else was in the new Birds of Prey. This inspires Black Canary to start a new mission, to hunt down whoever has it out for her best friend.
Birds of Prey #6 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
